Harrer stops as goalie

Represented Germany in 163 international games

The 2014 Sochi Olympics was the last international tournament for Germany’s Viona Harrer as a goalkeeper. Photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images

Viona Harrer, who represented Germany in 163 national team games, decided to end her career as goalkeeper after the Sochi 2014 Olympics.

The 27-year-old played her first Olympics in Sochi and participated in eight IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championships (including Division I). She also became the first goalkeeper in Germany to play in the third-tier men’s league. Most recently she was in the net of fourth-tier team Erding.

Harrer told eishockey-online.com that she wants to focus on a new profession after having dedicated her career to hockey and the army but will not quit hockey entirely.

“I don’t want to quit entirely and I want to remain in shape. I will join the women’s team ESC Planegg and play as a skater,” she said.

Who knows, maybe the end of her goalie career is the start of a new career. On the German national team Julia Zorn changed from goalkeeper to skater in 2009 and has become one of the top female forward in her country.